Band-cutter and feeder.



No. 662,508. Patented Nov. 27, I900. r. B. TAYLOR. BAND CUTTER ANDFEEDER.

(Application mad Feb 27, 1900.) (No Model.) 4 Shaets.-Sheet MM W @Y No.662,508 Patented Nov. 27; I900.

F. B. TAYLOR. BAND CUTTER AND, FEEDER.

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mum Kww/vkw No. 662,508. Patented Nov. 27, I900.

F. B. TAYLOR.

BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER.

I (Application filed Feb. 27, 1900.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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No. 662,508. Patented Nov. 27, I900.

F. B.'TAYLOR.

BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER.

(Applicltion filed Feb. 27, 1900.) (No Iodol.) 4 $haats-$heet 4.

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I UNITED STATES FRANCIS B. TAYLOR, OF TAYLOR, IOWA.

BAND-CUTTER AND FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,508, dated November27, Application filed February 27,1900. Serial No. 6,692. (No modeL? Toall whom, it may concern: v

Be it known that l, FRANCIS B. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Taylor, in the county of Pottawattamie, in the State ofIowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Band-Cuttersand Self Feeders, of which the following is a specification.

One object of this invention is to provide a band-cutter and self-feederof simple, strong, durable, and'inexpensive construction upon which thesheaves of grain may be placed from a wagon or from the stack of grainat the side of the machine and the sheaves be conveyed upwardly to theband-cutter, where the band will be automatically severed, after whichthe grain is distributed evenly over the conveyer leading to thecylinder of the threshing-machine in a regular and uniform manner.

A further object is to provide means where by the speed of the conveyorleading to the threshing-cylinder will be regulated proportionately tothe thickness of the layer of grain upon the conveyer leading to thecylinder, so that when a large quantity of grain is on the conveyer theconveyer will run slowly, and vice versa; and my object is, further, toprovide an automatic governor whereby the grain is held from passingthroughthe threshing-cylinder until a certain predetermined speed isattained by the threshing-cylinder and to stop the movement of the grainto the threshing-cylinder as soon as this speed falls below a certainnumber of revolutions.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction,arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device wherebythe objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully setforth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying'drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a side elevation of aportion of the threshing-machine with my improved band-cutter andself-feeder in posi tion thereon, part of the conveyer leading to theband-cutter being broken away. Fig. 2 shows a rear end elevationof theband-cutter and feeder complete, and Fig. 3 shows a top or plan view ofthe machine with the band-cutter and the con veyer leading to theband-cutter removed. Fig. 1 shows a central vertical longitudinalsectional view of the complete machine, and Fig. 5 shows a detailillustrating the means for driving one of the supporting-conveyers fromthe operating-shaft of the mating conveyer.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I haveused the reference-numeral10 to indicate the frame of the band-cutter and feeder, the forward endof which is designed to rest upon a portion of the threshing-machine andthe rear endthereof is supported upon the upright 11. Mounted in theframe 1i) near the end toward the threshing-machine is a shaft 12,having on each end two cranks 1-3, and on one end thereof is a pulley14, which pulley is geared direct to a pulley on the cylinder-shaft bymeans of a belt. (Not shown.) Itransmit motion from this shaft 12 toanother shaft 17, which latter shaft drives the operative mechanism ofthe device as follows: Mounted upon each of the crank-arms 13 is apitman 17, having a slot 18 in its upper end. This pitman is passedthrough a lever 19, and a pin 20, fixed to the lever, passes through thesaid slot 18. The outer ends of these levers 19 are bifurcated andpivoted to the shaft 17, and fixed to the said shaft between the partsof each of said levers is a ratchet-wheel 21, and a gravity-pawl 22,pivoted in each of said levers 19, engages the ratchet-wheel 21. Thesaid cranks 13 are arranged at angles of fortyfive degrees with relationto each other. Hence one of the pitmen 17 will be moving upwardly at alltimes during the rotation of the shaft 12, and this upward movement willof course raise the lever 19 t which the pitman is connected, therebyrotating the ratchet-wheel 2] by means of the pawl 22. I have arrangedthat the stroke of the said pitman will when working to its full limitoperate to rotate the ratchet-wheel 21 about onequarter of a revolution.Hence when the levers 19 are working full stroke motion will betransmitted to the shaft 17 to substantially correspond with therotation of the shaft 12. However, in this connection attention isdirected to the slots 18 just described, and by reason of these slotsthe levers 19 are not pulled downwardly with the pitmen 17, so that ifmeans were provided for holding the ends of the levers 19 in an elevatedposition the said levers could not operate a full stroke.

Hence the movement of the shaft 17 with relation to the shaft 12 will bechanged in prov portion to the amount of elevation given to the levers1.9. On the shaft 12 Ihave placed a bevel gear-wheel 23, meshed with alike wheel 24, which bevel gear-wheel 24 is fixed to the shaft of acentrifugal ball-governor 25. The sliding block 26 on the end of theballgovernor shaft is connected with a lever 27, fulcrumed to a support28 and having at its top a horizontal frame 29, which is designed to becapable of passing under the levers 19 when in their elevated positionto thereby prevent them from lowering.

It is obvious from the foregoing that upon starting the band-cntter andfeeder the frame 29 will hold the levers 19 in their elevated positionsuntil the speed of the governor reaches such a degree as to throw theballs of the governor outwardly sufficiently to operate the lever 27, soas to bring the said lever 27 inwardly beyond the ends of the levers 19.Then when the speed of the shaft 12 falls below a certain speed the saidlever 27 will be operated to move the frame 29 under the ends of thelevers 19 to again stop their operation before the rotation of thethreshing-cylinder is entirely stopped.

Mounted upon the shaft 17 is a bevel gearwheel 30 to mesh with a likewheel 31 on a shaft 32, which has its bearings upon the side of themachine-frame. On the opposite end of this shaft 32 is a cog-wheelAshaft 34 is mounted in the bearings 35 to extend longitudinally of themachine-frame. On'the said shaft 34 is a cog-wheel 36, in mesh with theaforesaid cog-wheel 33. Mounted upon this shaft 34 is a frame 37 toproject downwardly therefrom, and in the lowerend of this frame 37 is ashaft 38. An endless chain conveyer 39 is passed over sprocket-wheels 40on these shafts and is provided with cross-strips, and in these stripsare the inclined teeth 42, the inclination of said teeth being such thatthey project upwardly on the inner surface of the conveyer thus formedfor purposes hereinafter made clear. A shaft 43 is supported in bearings44, so as to be parallel withv the shaft 34. Motion is transmitted tothe shaft 43 by means of a sprocket-gearing 45, which sprocket-gearingis so arranged as to drive the shaft 43 about twice as fast as the shaft34. On this shaft 43 a frame 46 is mounted, and in the lower end of thisframe is a shaft 47. Sprocketwheels 48 are attached to these shafts, andthe endlesschain conveyer 49 passes over these sprocket-wheels, and onthese chains are the cross-strips 50, having the straight teeth 51thereon. These two devices are placed side by side in parallel positionsand separated to such a distance as to permit a sheaf of grain to enterbetween them without dropping through, and the lower ends of thesedevices are connected by means of the coilsprings 52, which serve todraw the lower ends of said frames together, so that small bundlescannot drop through between the devices without being engaged by theteeth thereof and so that large bundles of grain maycause the devices tospread, so that they will not choke.

As will hereinafter appear, the bundles of grain after being out willpass between the devices just described to be separated or.

spread therebyover a conveyer leading directly to the cylinder, whichwill be hereinafterdescribed. Toaidinspreadingthegrain upon thisconveyer leading to the cylinder, I have provided a crank-wheel 53 onthe shaft 32, and a pitman 54 is connected with a wristpin on the saidcrank-wheel and also to the frame 37, and an arm 55 connects the twoframes 37 and 46. Hence by this means it is obvious that the lower endsof said devices will swing across the surface of the conveyer leadingtothe threshing-cylinder and deposit the grain in even layers upon saidconveyer. I have provided the upwardlyprojecting teeth 42 on oneconveyer and the straight teeth 51 on the-other conveyer, which travelstwice as fast, for the purpose of spreading the grain as it passesbetween these conveying devices. On the shaft 17 is a pulley 56, whichpulleyis connected with a pulley57, mounted on a shaft 58, by a belt 58,which shaft is supported in the conveyer-frame 59. This conveyer-frame59 extends from a point adjacent to the threshing-cylinder to a point atthe outer end of the conveyer-frame. In the outer end of the frame 59 isa shaft 60, and an endless con veyer of ordinary construction (indicatedby the numeral 61) passes over the shafts 60 and 58 toward thethreshing-cylinder. This conveyer 61 is of such a width that the graindelivered by the laterallyswinging conveyer-s may all be received uponits top surface.

I have provided means whereby the feeding of grain to the cylinder maybe regulated by the thickness of the layer of grain upon the conveyer61, so that when the grain on the conveyer is too thick the movement ofthe feeding mechanismwill be slowed, so as to permit thethreshing-cylinder to receive the grain fed to it as follows: Onopposite sides of the frame 59 are two arms 62 to project inwardly andupwardly, the downward movement of said arms being limited by pins 63 onthe frame. Between the inner ends of said arms 62is a roller 64, havingradial projections 65 thereon, and from the shaft of the roller 64 aframe 66 projects upwardly and then transversely of the machine to theother side of the roller and then downwardly to the shaft, to which itis pivoted. It is obvione that when this frame 66 is moved upwardly itwill engage the levers 19 and hold them in an elevated position. It isobvious that if they are held elevated to such a degree that the levers19 can only operate through half astrokeinstead of the full stroke thespeed of the conveyers will be reduced IIO one-half. Then of course asthe roller 64 is lowered the speed will again increase to the originaldegree.

I have provided means for raising the bundles of grain from theground-surface, so that they will discharge between the swingingconveyors, as follows: The reference-numeral 67 indicates an endless con veyer of ordinary construction detachably supported on themachine-frame. The upper end of this conveyer projects above the spacebetween the said swinging conveyors, and the lower end is sup ported onthe uprights 68 upon the groundsurface. On this conveyer arecross-pieces 69, which project a considerable distance above theconveyor proper. The conveyor is driven by means of a sprocket-wheel 70on the shaft of the conveyor and a sprocket wheel 72 on the shaft of theconveyor 49, a sprocket-chain 73 connecting the sprocketwheels '70 and72.

In use the sheaves of grain are placed upon this conveyor 67 betweencrosspieces 69 and in a position transversely of the conveyor, so thatthe band on the sheaves will present themselves in such a manner as tobe readily cut by the cutter, hereinafter described.

The band-cutting mechanism comprises uprights 74 on the conveyer-frameand a shaft 75, supported in said uprights, directly over the upper endportion of the conveyor 67. A cylinder 76 is fixed to the said shaft,having blades 77 projecting radially therefrom and provided withserrated teeth. This bandcutting device is located in such position withrelation to the conveyor that each sheaf of grain as it passes under itwill be engaged thereby and will turn the cylinder bearing the knives,so that the knives will sever the bands thereof. B y being attached tothe conveyer it will operate the same when the conveyer is in anyposition. On the ends of the shaft 58 of the conveyor 61 are thecrank-arms 78, and connected with these crank-arms is an apron 79,leading toward the cylinder. It is obvious that during the rotation ofthe crank 58 the said apron will be shaken, so that the loose grainthereon will be delivered into the concave of the threshing-machine.

In practical use and assuming that the band-cutting and feedingattachment were applied to a thresher it is obvious that the sheaves ofgrain may be readily and easily loaded upon the conveyor 67, either fromthe wagon or from a stack of grain at either side of the thresher, andthat the bands of the sheaves will readily be severed by theband-cutting knives. Then as the severed grain is passed between theswinging conveyers it is obvious that on account of the difference intravel between the conveyors the grain in the sheaves will be spreadout, and on account of the fact that these convey ers are swinging thisgrain will be discharged upon the con veyer 61 in a layer to cover theentire surface of said conveyor 61. Itis then advanced by the saidconveyor 61 to the threshing-cylinder. It is obvious, further, that whenthe grain upon the conveyor 61 is in layers too thick to readily enterthe threshing-cylinder the cylinder 64E will be elevated, and by meansheretofore described the movement of all of the conveyors will beretarded until the thickness of grain upon the conveyors 61 will againreach its normal level. It is obvious, further, that by means of thegoverning device described heretofore the threshingmachine must beoperated at a certain predetermined speed before the feeding of grainwill start, and in the event that the speed of the threshing-machinefalls below a certain predetermined point at any time the.

feeding of grain will instantly stop.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is

1. In an improved feeder for threshing-niachines, the combination of twoparallel endless conveyors, arranged to move vertically in differentdirections, means for swinging said conveyors jointly, a conveyorbeneath the same, to move in a substantially-horizontal planeapproximately at right angles to the said parallel conveyors, wherebygrain passing between the parallel conveyors will be distributed fromside to side of the horizontal conveyer as the parallel conveyors swinglatorally.

2. In an improved feeder for threshing-machines, the combination of twoparallel endless conveyer-frames pivoted at their upper ends, yieldingpressure devices for connecting their lower ends whereby the said lowerends are normally hold toward each other and are capable of moving in adirection from each other, an endless conveyer on each of said frames,means for moving the endless conveyors vertically in differentdirections, means for swinging said conveyer-frames jointly, a conveyorbeneath same, to move in a substantially horizontal plane at rightangles to said parallel conveyer, whereby the grain passed between theparallel conveyors may be distributed from side to side of thehorizontal conveyer as the parallel conveyors swing laterally.

In a self-feeder for threshing-machines, the combination with a conveyorleading to the threshing-cylinder, of two endless conveyors arrangedparallel with each other above the central portion and at right anglesto theconveyer leading to the cylinder, said conveyors being pivoted attheir upper ends to swing laterally, teeth on one of the conveyors whichincline upwardly when on the side between the two conveyors, andstraight teeth on the other conveyer, means for driving the conveyorhaving straight teeth at a speed greater than the other conveyer,springsfor holding the lower ends of said conveyors toward each other, meansfor swinging the coliveyers jointly in a direction transversely of theconveyor leading to the cylinder, and means for discharging grainbetween the said conveyors, substantially as, and for the purposesstated.

4. In a band-cutter and self -feeder for threshingmachines, thecombination of a shaft to be driven from the threshing-machine andhaving a pair of crank-arms thereon, a pitman connected with eachcrank-arm, a second shaft rotatably mounted adjacent to the first, aseries of ratchet-Wheels thereon, levers pivoted to the said shafts, andmeans for providing a limited sliding connection between said levers,and said pitman, pawls'on each of said levers to engage said ratchet-Wheels, a conveye'r leading to the threshingcy'linde'r', and a devicelocated above the conveyer leading to the threshing-cylinder, capable ofbeing moved vertically by the grain carried on the conveyor, and a framecon nectedwith said device, designed when in elevated position to engagethe forward ends of said levers and hold them in elevated positions,substantially as, and for the purposes stated.

5. In a band-cutterand self-feeder for a second shaft rotatably mountedadjacent to the first, a series of ratchet-wheels thereon, leverspivoted to the said shafts, and means for providing a limited slidingconnection between said levers and said pitman, pawls on each of saidlevers to engage said ratchetwheels, and a centrifugal ball governorgeared to the first-mentioned shaft, a lever fnlcrumed to a suitablesupport and. connected with the ball-governor and having a cross-pieceat its top, designed to pass under the said levers when the speed of thefirstmentioned shaft is below a certain predetermined number ofrevolutions per minute, for the purposes stated.

FRANCIS B. TAYLOR. Witnesses:

GEO. T. RING, WILL. F. LYMAN.

